Low-cost dialysis treatment in Bogor

BOGOR (JP): Dialysis treatment center Rialex Tanudjiwa has opened to offer cheap treatment for patients with kidney. The treatment costs Rp 350,000 per session, which is 30 percent lower than the average price.

"We care about kidney failure patients. Kidney failure could hit anyone, with no age limit," Rully M.A. Rusli of Yayasan Peduli Ginjal, or Yadugi foundation, said on Sunday.

Following the economic crisis, patients have had to pay for expensive blood dialysis, which can reach Rp 1 million (US$130) per session. Generally, a kidney failure patient must have two blood dialysis sessions every week.

"Since the economic turmoil in 1997, many patients have quit the treatment as it could amount to Rp 96 million per year," Rully said.

He said 85 percent of patients have died because they could not afford such an expensive treatment.

Before the crisis, people paid Rp 200,000 to 400,000 per dialysis session.

The foundation urged donors to join the program by submitting a Rp 1 million deposit with the foundation. If the donors suffer from kidney failure, Yadugi will give free dialysis for 10 years. (21/edt)